email from Pearl

Dear Philip
Sidney and I were really saddened to hear the news of Pathi's demise. We knew her well at Medical School and Panch of course was in many of our groups. We met Pathi and Panch in 1979 in the USA. We were staying with our cousin, Selvarani and Mahesan Richards, and the very first morning after our arrival Punch and Pathi arrived around 7am to meet us. We had a lovely meal with them in their beautiful home and it was such a warm and happy reunion. We met Panch and Pathi again at Sevarani's daughter's wedding in 2005 when our friendship was once again rekindled. We could see how bravely Pathi was coping with her illness. She was always gentle, loving and caring. As we are a couple within the batch we identified so much with them in so many ways. Pathi's contribution to pathology I am told by Selvarani has been outstanding. She has been voted the best teacher at the University and has won this acolade for many years running. Her contribution to her chosen field and to educating medical students will live on.
We think of Panch and the family at this time and pray that they will find comfort and solace in the many decades they have shared together and the memories that Pathi has left behind. We pray for them at this time.
Regards.
Pearl

Dr Pearl Hettiaratchy OBE DL FRCPsych
Consultant Psychiatrist
Robin's Hill
2 Oliver's Battery Road North
Winchester
SO22 4JA

Jansz and the Martians

A story related by Janz.
" Some martians landed on earth in Warminster in UK. They got friendly with an earth couple. The female on earth wanted to know how they produce young ones on Mars. The Martians obliged. They showed a machine where they did the fertilisation, incubation and weaning. Then the Martians asked the earth couple, how they did it on earth. The couple obliged and the curious martians watched the whole proceeding. At the end of it they asked where is the young earthling? They were told that it would take nine months for that. The martians replied ' It takes that long? Then why the indecent haste in the last part of your peculiar performance?'"
Philip

email from Nalini

Here is an email I received from Pathi, 50 years ago.
Nalini

email re Pathmini's death

5.

Message from the Panchacharam Family:

"Dr. Pathmini Panchacharam passed away peacefully on Monday August 16th, 2010

around 8:40pm at home. The family is having a very, very private funeral ceremony. Please

give us some space and time to grieve and come to terms with what has happened.

We really appreciate all the support you have given us over the years. But at this time, we would like to have some time to ourselves and we hope that you will respect our wishes. Please give us a few days to unwind before you reach out to us.

Thank you"

From,

Panchacharam Family

6.

Philip,

Punch's address is Dr W Panchacharam, 89 Tennyson Drive, Nanuet, N Y 10954, U S A.

Daughter Arabi uses email sagefrog78@hotmail.com

I am not aware of Panch's email or whether he even uses one.. Will let you know if I get one. The announcement requesting a couple of weeks for the family to grieve came from Arabi's email address.

7.

Hello Ranjit and all Family members,

It is with deep regret and shock I learnt,about my dear colleague and friend's,death.I know she suffered a lot in her last few years.She was well looked after. When I last saw her,that familiar smile was there,in spite of her suffering.

Please convey our Sympathies & Condolences to Winston Annah,Viji Acca,Walter,Nandini,and the brothers,and all other members of the family.

I understand you all will want some time and space to grieve.

Regards,

Ras & Betty

emails re Pathmini's demise

Demise of Pathmini

1. 18.08.10

Sad to hear of Pathmini's demise. Our heart felt condolences to her family. I too remember her smiling and kind face.

Chitra

2. Pathi was one of my closest friends at Methodist College & we had such fun together.

During our Faculty days we used to make a dash for lunch (chatting all the way) - she to her home & I to my cousin's who lived opposite her home.

Afterwards too she was a great friend to both Daya & me.

Sadly we lost touch after she left for the States but we did have a couple of chats over the phone. I can vouch for the sentiments expressed by Chandran that she was indeed a wonderfully kind & generous person - very loving & lovable & a good friend.

Our deepest sympathies to Panch & the rest of her family.

Daya & Nalini

3.

Dear Philip ,

Please convey my deepest sympathies to Panch and his children ,i heard about her illness some time back ,it is a long suffering to reach her journeys end .

pleseant person to meet and enjoy a chat ,hope her soul rest in peace

Kind Regards.

Balakrishnan.

email from Chandra Dissanayake

Dear Philip (& Ponna),

It is very sad indeed to read about the passing away of Pathmini. She was admitted to medical college with the "direct batch" of eleven of us with me, and was in a "Group" out-of-the-alphabetical order, from the main batch, during the first two years. She was very pleasant, quiet and smiling most of the time. Please convey my deepest sympathies to "Panch" and the family (I don't have their e-mail address).

Best regards,

Chandra (Dissanayake)

Announcing the Demise of Padmini Rasasingam - Panchatcharam

Padmini had a quiet charm in her ways at the Medical Faculty.
Message was forwarded by Chandran Ponnambalam.
The heartfelt condolences of the '1960 Batch entrants' to the Medical Faculty, Colombo, go out to her family.